Improvement in corsets



Mns: zmccA DE BAHN 'Imlri' im U01-seis NIO. 119,583. Patented Oc'c.A 3,1871.

UNITED STATES REBECCA DE BAUN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSETS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,583, dated October 3,1871; antedated September 18, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REBECCA DE BAUN, of Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Corsets, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, and the letters and iigures ofreference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure l is a front view of a corset constructed with myimprovements. Figure 2 is a side view of same, and Fig. 3 a view of aportion of the corset detached.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe the same with particularity, making reference to theaforesaid drawing.

A is the front ofthe corset, made of a form to extend well down upon theabdomen. It is provided with the ordinary catch or hook-fastenin g,usually known as the corset-steel, and has the usual whalebone or otherstays, which are indicated at c in dotted lines. It is also providedwith two conformator-laces, B B, by means of which the lower portion maybe readily adapted to follow the form of that portion of the body of thewearer. C is the back of the corset, a-nd is made entirely free of staysand whalebones, so that it shall be soft and pliable and comfortable tothe wearer. The lower portion of this back C is extended and stiffenedbya marginal stay or spring to act as a skirt-supporter. s The back C Ccomes down only so far as the lower portion of the small of the waist,and is laced at each side to the front by the laces D D. E is a brace,which laces to the front at the laces d d, being an extension downwardof the laces D D. This brace is made elastic in the back, as shown at e,and is worn just below the waist and below the back of the corset C C',and serves to brace the lower portion of the corset front, and thuscauses the same to act as an abdominal support. This construction of theback in two parts-an upper and lower part, which are entirely separateand distinct-enables me to combine a skirt-support and abdominal-bracein one garment without having a stiff, uncomfortable, and unhealthfulback, without any lacing in the back, and' furnishes a garment whichwill be easy and comfortable to the wearer. F F are shoulder-straps,which are attached to the back of the corset and pass over the shouldersof the wearer. The front ends of these straps are divided into twoportions, ff', each of which is provided with a series of holes toengage hooks or buttons upon the corset. One of these divided ends isattached to the front of the corset and one to the back thereof at eachside of the laces D D.

Thisarrangement offers a great convenience and facility to ladies whoare nursing children, as the front of the corset may be pulled downreadily by unhooking one of the divided endsthe one j" which supportssaid front-and there will still remain the one f to support the back. Ofcourseit will be necessary to loosen a portion of the top of the laces DD to accomplish this, which may be readily done by making a loop-knot ofthe bight of the corset-lacing cord at this point, as shown at g g.Without this arrangement of the strap, as is ordinarily done, the backofthe corset, and, in fact, the whole garment, is left without supportwhen the front of the straps is unhooked.

I maymake the back C either with or without bones or stays, so that thecorset may be worn with or without the straps.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The shoulder-strapsF F, with divided front ends ff', adapted to holdthe two parts of a sidelacing corset, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of the front A, back C C', and brace E, substantiallyas and for the purpose specied REBECCA DE BAUN.

Witnesses:

J. W. MNDAY, H. F. BEUNs.

